In one Saturday morning, you can help a young person make the most important decision of his or her life: to graduate from high school.

As a Graduation Walk volunteer, you'll be paired with a Des Moines Public Schools staff member and other volunteers to visit the homes of middle and high school students at risk of dropping out. You’ll connect personally with the student and their family, share powerful information about the importance of a diploma, and help them return to the path that leads to graduation.

When students attend today, they achieve tomorrow. We hope you'll share your wisdom and life experience with a young person who could benefit from a caring adult reaching out.

The 2018 Graduation Walk will reach high schoolers behind on credits, as well as high school and middle school students with high rates of absenteeism or who are struggling academically.

Saturday, August 25, 20189:00 a.m. to noon

Registration is now closed.

Thank you for your interest in 2018 Graduation Walk. If you have questions, please contact Vanessa Sedrel, Community Investments Manager, at vanessa.sedrel@unitedwaydm.org or 515.246.2512.

What can I expect as a volunteer?

Did you know?

High school dropouts are 3x more likely to be unemployed than college graduates. Source: Educational Testing Services Research and Development, 2012

By sixth grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school. Source: Baltimore Education Research Consortium, 2011

Poor attendance in the first month of school can predict chronic absence for the entire year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school. Source: Baltimore Education Research Consortium, 2014

An Iowa high school graduate, throughout their lifetime, earns an average of $700,000more than a high school dropout. Source: National Center for Education Statistics

73% of all U.S. jobs are in occupations that typically require a high school diploma for entry. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2013

32% of high school dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24 are unemployed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017

Why middle school?

It is important to connect with middle school students early before they solidify bad habits that could lead to dropping out. By sixth grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school. Missing just 10 percent—about 18 days—of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success.

Source: AttendanceWorks.org

Sponsored by:

Over six years, Graduation Walk volunteers have visited over 7,333home visits, making over 2,200 connections that can impact the educational and life success of these students.